ON TUESDAY, A statement emanated from the office of NTLA
Speaker George S. Dweh expressing grave concern over the number of licenses
granted to GSM companies without careful assessment and scrutiny.

IN THAT STATEMENT, Speaker Dweh called on the Ministry of
Post and Telecommunications to properly investigate GSM companies applying
for licenses as well as ensuring that these entities are not given the same
frequency as is being alleged in some quarters.

THE HOUSE SPEAKER, according to the statement signed by his
press secretary, further expressed concern over the proliferation of GSM
companies and the policy adopted by the Postal Affairs Ministry in assigning
them frequencies.

SPEAKER DWEH FURTHER expressed fear that the way in which
frequencies were being assigned by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications
would create enormous problems for the mobile phone industry in time to
come.

ADDITIONALLY, THE STATEMENT quoted the Speaker as cautioning
Liberians not to front for foreigners with the intention of selling licenses.
Accordingly, he called on the NTLA Committee on Post and Telecommunications
to work along with the Postal Affairs Ministry in reviewing all licenses
and contracts already granted.

INDEED, WE TAKE delight in the Speaker’s statement because
we are equally concerned about individuals and institutions desirous of
doing business in Liberia under the canopy of helping to revamp the country’s
economy after over a decade of civil conflict and war. Besides, recent reports
that a particular company interested to get in the cell phone industry has
criminal and fraudulent record.

WHILE IT IS true that the country needs every investment such
as more GSM companies in its economic recovery program, it is imperative
that the track records of these institutions and individuals be scrupulously
checked to avoid investment agreement being signed with “bad companies,
” perhaps under different names.

IN VIEW OF this, it is important that the Ministry of Post
and Telecommunications in collaboration with its relevant partners put in
place the proper mechanism to protect our national interest.

WE ARE RAISING these issues because of experience in the past
where some companies that expressed interest in investing in Liberia were
later found to have criminal and corrupt records. Indeed, the country wants
investment but not from curvatures, crooks and con men.

HONESTLY, LIBERIA NEEDS investors with sound, enviable and
unquestionable track records. Watch out for so-called investors who want
to exploit the present situation to rob the country! BEWARE!